go over the limit fiscal cliff rather than cave to republican demands for a continued tax break for the wealthiest americans. he made the statement in an interview with cnbc. >> i want to understand the administration's position on raising taxes for the wealthy, those making more than $250,000. if republicans and not agree to that, is the administration prepared to go over the fiscal cliff? >> absolutely. there is no room for an agreement that the not involve the rates going up for the top 2%. >> speaking to a roundtable of corporate executives in washington, president obama said republicans' aid to examine the reality that tax rates will rise for the wealthiest americans. >> we have seen some movement in the last several days with some republicans. there has been a recognition that, maybe, they can accept some rate increases as long as is combined with a serious impediment reform and additional spending cuts. and if we can get the leadership on the republican side to take that kramer, to acknowledge that reality, then the numbers are actually not that far apart. another way of putting